Marquette Hosts Shorthanded Creighton in Big East Clash

Golden Eagles look to take advantage of Bluejays' injury woes in Milwaukee

Jan. 27, 2026 at 12:47pm

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Marquette (7-14, 2-8 Big East) hosts Creighton (12-8, 6-3 Big East) in a Big East conference matchup at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The Bluejays are dealing with several key injuries, including to starters Owen Freeman and Jasen Green, as they take on the struggling Golden Eagles.

Why it matters

This game is an important conference matchup for both teams, as Marquette looks to build momentum while Creighton tries to stay in the hunt for a top spot in the Big East standings despite their injury issues.

The details

Marquette will lean on its leading scorers Nigel James and Chase Ross, while Creighton is expected to start a lineup featuring Ty Davis, Austin Swartz, Josh Dix, Jasen Green (if healthy), and Isaac Traudt. The Bluejays have won six of their last nine games, but the injuries to Freeman and Green could hamper their efforts against the struggling Golden Eagles.

  • The game tips off at 8:30pm Central on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • Creighton's Owen Freeman missed the team's last two games with a leg issue and is questionable to play.
  • Creighton's Jasen Green re-injured his shoulder in the team's last game against Xavier but is expected to play against Marquette.

The players

Nigel James

Marquette's leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

Chase Ross

Marquette's second-leading scorer, averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a Big East-best 2.4 steals per game.

Jasen Green

Creighton's starting forward, averaging 10.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, though he is dealing with a shoulder injury.

Owen Freeman

Creighton's starting center, who has missed the team's last two games with a leg issue and is questionable to play.

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What they’re saying

“We know Creighton is dealing with some injuries, but we can't overlook them. We need to come out focused and ready to play our game.”

— Nigel James, Marquette Guard

“Getting Jasen back healthy is huge for us. He's a key part of what we do, and we'll need him at his best against a tough Marquette team.”

— Greg McDermott, Creighton Head Coach

What’s next

If Creighton can get healthy, they will look to build on their 6-3 Big East record and stay in the hunt for a top spot in the conference standings. Marquette, meanwhile, will try to use this home game against a shorthanded opponent to pick up a much-needed conference win and gain some momentum.

The takeaway

This game represents an opportunity for Marquette to take advantage of Creighton's injury issues and potentially pull off an upset at home. However, the Bluejays are still a formidable opponent, and the Golden Eagles will need to play their best basketball to come away with a victory.